System, User Equipment, Server, Computer Program Product and Method for Providing Access to Mobile Communication Services

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a system, an user equipment and a method for providing access to mobile communication services, allowing a user to regularly access his/her mobile services and applications through an Internet connection, but pretending to use a regular mobile device. The invention is based on an alternative user equipment equipped with a subscriber identity module to which it is associated the same telephone number as a subscriber identity module that is equipping the user&#39;s main regular mobile device, so that the alternative user equipment can access at least one communication service that is also available to the main regular mobile device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a communication system, an user equipment,server, computer program product and a method for providing access tomobile communication services such as voice call, SMS, instant messagingor the like; in particular, said communication system allows a user toaccess the subscribed mobile communication services and applicationsremotely through a communication network such as Internet.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

It may happen that a cellular user, who is travelling, looses thepossibility to access his/her mobile services and applications becauseof poor radio coverage or mobile network faults, or because the handsethas not sufficient energy, or is lost or stolen, or the like, while anInternet connection is available. Through Internet and othercommunications networks one can access a number of communicationservices, but not all mobile services and applications. For instance,one cannot check WhatsApp messages, call somebody from his phone book byshowing his/her mobile telephone number as caller id, or the like.

The availability of what people can do with their handsets or tablets isever increasing, therefore there is a need to overcome thesedeficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to solve these and other problems byproviding a system, an user equipment, and a method for providing accessto mobile communication services.

The present invention teaches how to embody the relevant systems andapparatuses, allowing at least a user to access his/her subscribedmobile services and applications through an Internet connection, bysimulating the usage of his/her regular mobile device (main userequipment).

The main idea of the present invention is based on an user equipmentthat may be kept in a safe location (e.g. at home, in a server farm, orthe like), and comprises the following parts:

a mobile interface for accessing a mobile network providing mobilecommunication services;

a communication interface in communication with a communication networkfor allowing remote control of said second user equipment;

a subscriber identity module for giving access to said mobile network,and configured to be associated to a telephone number that is alsoassociated to a further subscriber identity module of a main userequipment;

processing means (not shown in the attached drawings) configured forperforming the following steps:

-   -   receiving, through the communication interface, control        information which can be generated by a terminal device;    -   generating data on the basis of said received control        information, and transmitting said data through said mobile        interface;    -   acquiring audio and/or visual information generated during the        operation of the processing means and/or the mobile interface;    -   transmitting, through said communication interface, said audio        and/or visual information.

In this way, the user equipment can access at least a communicationservice that is also available to the main user equipment. Thisincreases the accessibility to the mobile services over the prior art,because the invention provides to the user two or more ways to access amobile network, and at least one of them can be available even if theuser is far away from said safe location.

In addition the present invention teaches how to embody a server,allowing at least a user to access his/her subscribed mobile servicesand applications through an Internet connection, by simulating the usageof his/her regular mobile device (main user equipment).

Moreover the present invention teaches how to embody a computer programproduct, allowing at least a user to access his/her subscribed mobileservices and applications through an Internet connection, by simulatingthe usage of his/her regular mobile device (main user equipment). It isclear that said computer program product is adapted to be loadedpartially or wholly to one of the elements of the communication systemon the user side or provider side according based on the presentinvention.

Further advantageous features of the present invention are the subjectof the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The features of the invention are specifically set forth in the claimsannexed to this description; such characteristics will be clearer fromthe following description of a preferred and non-exclusive embodimentthat is shown in annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a system to access a mobile communication network accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart depicting the process for accessing a mobilecommunication network through an alternative user equipment, accordingto the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this description, any reference to “an embodiment” will indicate thata particular configuration, structure or feature, described in regard tothe implementation of the invention, is comprised in at least oneembodiment. Therefore, the phrase “in an embodiment” and other similarphrases, which may be present in different parts of this description,will not necessarily be all related to the same embodiment. Furthermore,any particular configuration, structure or feature may be combined inone or more embodiments in any way deemed appropriate. The referencesbelow are therefore used only for simplicity's sake, and do not limitthe protection scope or extension of the various embodiments.

The invention is based on two apparatuses: a Main User Equipment and anAlternative User Equipment. Both of them are adapted to access a mobilecommunications network using the same credentials.

Typically the Main User Equipment is a smartphone that the userregularly carries and uses for his/her communications needs when he/sheis travelling.

The Alternative User Equipment may be an ad-hoc apparatus (i.e. aspecifically designed apparatus) or an apparatus similar to the MainUser Equipment or even of the same type as the Main User Equipment. SaidAlternative User Equipment is preferably held in a safe place, such asthe user's home or other trusted premises.

Through a communication interface or a suitable connection interface,the Alternative User Equipment is connected to a communication network,such as Internet or like, so that it can transmit and receive data flowsand commands to and from remote locations.

When the user needs to access the mobile communications network whilehis/her Main User Equipment is out of order for some reason, the usercan access the Alternative User Equipment through Internet, and thenhe/she can access the mobile communications network, and the relevantservices, as if he/she would use his/her Main User Equipment.

Possible embodiments of the invention are given in the followingdescription also with reference to the annexed figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the communication system100 that comprises the following parts:

-   -   a mobile network 101 for providing mobile communication        services, which typically is a cellular network, such as a GSM        network, a CDMA network, a UMTS Network, an LTE network, a        network combining a number of 3GPP technologies, or other types        of mobile networks;    -   a main user equipment 102 (e.g. a mobile phone, a smartphone, a        tablet, a wearable device such as a smartwatch, smart-glasses,        or the like) that the user regularly utilizes to access the        mobile network 101 and relevant applications; such main user        equipment 102 comprises a first identification module 103, such        as a SIM (Subscriber Identification Module), a CSIM (CDMA        Subscriber Identification Module), a USIM (UMTS Subscriber        Identification Module), an ISIM (IP Multimedia Service Identity        Module), or other kinds of identification modules; for the sake        of brevity, this identification module is called SIM-m;    -   at least one alternative user equipment 104 (e.g. a second        mobile phone, a smartphone, an expressly designed transceiver,        or the like) which is preferably kept in a safe location (e.g.        at user's home, in a server farm, or the like), and is        configured for accessing at least one communication service or        application as the main user equipment 102;    -   a gateway apparatus 107 (e.g. a general-purpose computers PC, a        router, or the like), comprising elaboration means 108 (e.g. a        CPU, GPU, FPGA, CPLD, or the like) and communications means 109        configured for allowing connections to and from a communication        network 113, preferably by means of security procedures. In        particular, with a security procedure for getting access to the        mobile network 101 through the alternative user equipment 104;        such gateway apparatus 107 is also configured to implement        protocols and formats for the transport of information such as        data flows like audio and/or visual information, e.g. audio        and/or video stream produced during the operation of said        alternative user equipment 104), commands or the like; said        gateway apparatus 107 is configured for interfacing the        alternative user equipment 104 with the communication network        113;    -   a communication network 113, typically Internet, through which        the gateway apparatus 107 can exchange data and commands with an        access apparatus 110;    -   the access apparatus 110 (e.g. a general-purpose computers PC, a        tablet, or the like), also referred as ‘terminal device’)        comprises input/output means 111 apt to present audio and/or        visual information (e.g. by means of an audio adapter and/or a        video adapter) and acquire control information (e.g. by means of        one or more human device interfaces such as keyboard, mouse, or        the like), and first communication means 112 configured to        access the communication network 113 and to interact with the        gateway apparatus 107.

More in details, the alternative user equipment 104 comprises thefollowing parts:

-   -   a communication interface 1041 for allowing remote control of        said second user equipment 104; said communication interface may        be an adapter according to at least one of the following        standards: USB, Firewire, RS232, IEEE 1284, Ethernet, Wi-Fi,        I2C, or similar);    -   a mobile interface 1042 for accessing to a mobile network 101        providing said mobile communication services;    -   a second identification module 105, called SIM-a, which is        similar to said first identification module 103 (SIM-m), and has        associated the same mobile telephone number as that of SIM-m        103;    -   processing means (not shown in the attached drawings) in        communication with said interfaces 1041,1042 and said subscriber        identity module 105.

When the different parts of the system are in an operating condition,each part repeats a sequence of steps which will be described below.

The processing means of the user equipment 104 are configured forperforming the following tasks:

-   -   receiving, through said communication interface 1041, control        information which can be generated by the terminal device 110;    -   generating data on the basis of said received control        information (e.g. generating a dialing sequence, preparing an        SMS messages, preparing packets to be send to a particular APN        of the mobile network 101, or the like), and transmitting said        data through said mobile interface 1042;    -   acquiring audio and/or visual information generated during the        operation of the processing means and/or the mobile interface        1042, e.g. recording the audio and/or video stream of a call,        storing packets received from the APN, or the like;    -   transmitting, through said communication interface 1041, said        audio and/or visual information, preferably to the terminal        device 110.

The gateway apparatus 107 comprises the following elements:

-   -   second communication means 109 adapted to access said        communication network 113, and to establish a (secure)        connection with said terminal device 110 for transmitting and        receiving data over said (secure) connection;    -   elaboration means 108 in communication with said second        communication means 109.

More in details, the elaboration means 108 are configured for executinga set of instructions that performs the following steps:

-   -   receiving said output information or said audio and/or visual        information from said communication interface 1041;    -   translating (optionally) said output information into said audio        and/or visual information, e.g. by encapsulating them in a        sequence of TCP packets;    -   transmitting said audio and/or visual information to the        terminal device 110 by means of said second communication means        109 (e.g. an Ethernet or WiFi interface or the like).

Furthermore, the elaboration means 108 are also configured for executinga further set of instructions that performs the following steps:

-   -   receiving control information (e.g. commands imparted by the        user through the terminal 110) from said terminal device 110        through the second communication means 109;    -   translating (optionally) said control information received from        said terminal device 110 into input information for said        communication interface 1041, e.g. by reconstructing the data        contained in a set or received TCP packets;    -   transmitting said input information or said control information        to said interface 1041 to the communication interface 1041, e.g.        by means of a digital interface using a communication protocol        like I²C, USB, or the like.

The terminal device 110 is configured for executing the following steps:

-   -   establishing, through the first communication means 112 (e.g. an        Ethernet or WiFi interface or the like), a connection with said        gateway apparatus 107, preferably by means of a secure login        procedure;    -   generating said control information for said second user        equipment 104 and transmitting them through said connection;    -   receiving the audio and/or visual information through said        connection and presenting them by means of the input/output        means 112.

The mobile network 101 and the communication network 113 may beinterconnected (dashed line in FIG. 1) for implementing advancedfeatures that are illustrated along this description. Anyway those twonetworks are usually interconnected for other purposes, as communicationnetwork 113 is typically Internet, which is usually available throughany cellular network.

SIM-m and SIM-a correspond to the same telephone number, as said above,similarly to the case of the service offered by mobile network operatorscalled “Double” service, or SIMs Twins, or SIM Bis, or other commercialnames, that offers the user the ability to have, for instance, a SIM ina mobile phone and a SIM twin in a car phone with the same telephonenumber.

The basic idea of the invention is in fact allowing the user to accessthe mobile network 101 through the communication chain that starts fromthe access apparatus 110 and comprises the alternative user equipment104, by making it possible for the user to simulate an access to themobile network 101 by means of its main user equipment 102, whileinstead he/she is not using it. The user's benefits are theaccessibility to communication services (e.g. phone calls), messages(e.g., WhatsApp messages, SMSs, MMSs, etc.), and applications withoutusing his/her main user equipment 102, since it may unable to establisha direct connection with said mobile network 101.

As SIM-m and SIM-a correspond to the same telephone number, only one ofthem can be active at a time. In fact, if one of them is active, themobile network 101 rejects any access attempt by other SIMscorresponding to the same telephone number; hence, the main userequipment 102 and the alternative user equipment 104 cannot communicateto each other through the mobile network 101, but only through thecommunication network 113. This is useful for aligning data andapplications (also referred as ‘service access data’) of the userequipment. An example in which the ‘service access data’ are used iswhen the user updates a contact in the phone book of the main userequipment 102. When this occurs, the same update is immediatelyreproduced by the alternative user equipment 104. This can be done bymeans of a message automatically sent from the main user equipment 102to the alternative user equipment 104, through the path that includesthe connection between the mobile network 101 and the communicationnetwork 113. In other words, the main user equipment 102 and thealternative user equipment 104 are configured for synchronizing theservice access data (e.g. contacts, credentials, SMS, Instant messages,or the like) of the user equipment 104 preferably through a pathincluding the mobile network 101 and the communication network 113.

This ensures that the user can increase the possibility of accessing themobile networks service, since the user can easily recover theinformation for accessing the services in case the main user equipmentfails or is no more accessible (e.g. because it has been damaged,stolen, or the like).

The communication system 100 may also comprise a connection interface106 configured for adapting inputs and outputs of the alternative userequipment 104 to inputs and outputs of a gateway apparatus 107. In fact,some alternative user equipment (e.g. the handsets running iOS asoperating system) does not allow the full control by USB interface, orby means of the user's voice, and for some operations they requirespressing a key or touching the screen. In order to solve this issue, theconnection interface 106 may comprise suitable mechanical tools (e.g. arobotic hand, a movable elongated body moved by actuators so as to actas a finger, or the like) remotely controllable (e.g. by the mouse ofconnected to the access apparatus 110) adapted to activate thecommunication interface 1041 which may comprise human device interfacesuch as buttons, a touch screen, or the like. This makes the connectioninterface 106 more complex, but the skilled person knows how toimplement it. In this way, the accessibility to the mobile services isfurther improved because a larger quantity of alternative user equipmentcan be used for implementing the invention.

More in details, the connection interface 106 is in communication withthe communication interface 1041 of second user equipment 104 and withsaid gateway apparatus 107.

When the connection interface 106 is in a operating condition, it isconfigured for performing the following steps:

-   -   acquiring equipment output data produced by said second user        equipment 104 (e.g. digital streams, audio and/or video output        perceptible by humans through a camera and/or a microphone, or        the like), preferably during the operation of said user        equipment;    -   adapting said equipment output data into output information        which is comprised in the audio and/or visual information, so as        said data can be transmitted, e.g. by encapsulating said        information into an encoded MPEG stream, a stream of TCP packet,        or the like;    -   sending said output information to the gateway apparatus 107,        e.g. by means of an adapted supporting one or more of the        following communication standards: USB, Firewire, RS232, IEEE        1284, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, I²C, or the like.

Furthermore, said connection interface 106 is also configured forperforming the following steps:

-   -   receiving the input information from said gateway apparatus 107,        e.g. by means of the digital interface;    -   translating said input information into at least a user        equipment command (e.g. by interpreting a string written in a        particular language) or a datum sent to said second user        equipment 104 (e.g. by decoding an MPEG encoded stream) which is        comprised in the control information;    -   sending said command or datum to said second user equipment 104        through the communication interface 1041, e.g. by using the        proper input means which will be better described in what        follows in this description.

Considering that a number of handsets have applications allowing fulloperation by voice, that is to give instructions, place calls, send textmessages, dictate emails, play music and more, just by speaking to thehandset, the connection interface 106 may comprise a cradle to hold thedevice, a camera to film the device screen, and a connection to theaudio jack of the device to receive and send sounds from and to thedevice. With these components the skilled person knows how to displaythe screen of the handset on the screen of the access apparatus 110 andto transfer data and commands in both directions. Thus, with the accessapparatus 110 the user may be able to see the screen of the handset andto control it by voice.

The skilled person also knows that, in the practical implementation ofthe invention, depending on the particular embodiment andcharacteristics of the devices selected for the implementation, theelements identified in FIG. 1 by labels 104 to 109 can be grouped in anumber of different ways. For instance, the alternative user equipment104 (comprising the SIM-a 105) of the main embodiment can be anexpressly designed transceiver, or modem, that works as a standardcellular device, but, instead of getting inputs from keys, touchscreens,microphones, cameras, and connectors, and instead of providing outputsto screens, loudspeakers, and connectors, it gets inputs, and providesoutputs through connectors, so that input and outputs can be managed bythe gateway apparatus 107 through a tailored connection interface 106.

In all the previously described embodiments, the process for accessingthe mobile network, through the access apparatus 110 and the alternativeuser equipment 104, comprises the following steps, which are nowdescribed also with reference to FIG. 2:

201 start of process, occurring when the user decides to utilize thealternative user equipment 104 to access the mobile network 101,assuming that the main user equipment 102 is not connected to the mobilenetwork 101;202 the user takes an access apparatus 110 suitable to access thecommunication network 113;203 through communication network 113, the user connects to gatewayapparatus 107 and preferably login with the security procedure foraccessing the mobile network 101;204 the gateway apparatus 107 obtains the characteristics of itsconnection with access apparatus 110 (including communication network113) and, possibly, prompting the user for some inputs regarding thecharacteristics of the access apparatus that he/she wants to use (e.g.,screen resolution) and its connection to the network (e.g., WiFi,RS232);205 the gateway apparatus 107 negotiates parameters for the datatransport between the connection interface 106 and access apparatus 110;206 the gateway apparatus 107 determines if the above negotiation issuccessful: if it is, the process continues to step 207, otherwise itcontinues to step 208;207 the gateway apparatus 107, through the connection interface 106,sends a command to activate the alternative user equipment 104 andstarts relaying data flows through the established connection betweenthe access apparatus 110 and the alternative user equipment 104, thusallowing the user to access the mobile network 101 (e.g., to place acall, send an SMS, or the like); then the user can continue to exchangedata with the mobile network 101, until he decides to close theestablished connection to it. When the process to access the mobilenetwork 101 terminates, the process goes to the end 210;208 the gateway apparatus 107 aborts the access attempt and209 send the abortion cause to the access apparatus 110;210 end of the process to access the mobile network 101.

It is to be evidenced that establishing connection to the alternativeuser equipment 104 allows the user not only to access the mobile network101, but also to access data and applications residing on thatapparatus.

Summarizing, a method for providing access to mobile communicationservices such as voice call, SMS, instant messaging, or the like,comprises the following phases:

-   -   a receiving phase, wherein control information, which can be        generated by the terminal device 110, is received through a        communication interface 1041 of a user equipment 104 associated        to a telephone number that is also associated to another user        equipment 102;    -   a first data forwarding phase, wherein data are generated, by        means of the processing means, on the basis of said received        control information, and transmitted, by means of said user        equipment, to the mobile network 101;    -   a second data forwarding phase, wherein audio and/or visual        information generated during the operation of the user equipment        104 are transmitted, through said communication interface 1041,        to the terminal device 110.

In a second embodiment of the invention, an alternative user equipment,which has similar technical features and functionalities of thealternative user equipment 104 described for the main embodiment, is aregular user equipment (e.g. a smartphone, a tablet, or another kind ofmobile device) that can be patched/programmed to redirect inputs andoutputs through suitable means (screen mirroring patches and the like).In other words, the alternative user equipment comprises the gatewayapparatus, so that said alternative user equipment is able tocommunicate (on its own) with the terminal device 110 through thecommunication network 113.

The patch (also referred as ‘application’) comprises a set ofinstructions for coding the audio-visual information, which is intendedfor the output means of the alternative user equipment (screens,loudspeakers, and the like), into data flows that can be transmittedover physical connections or wireless connections, such as USB, Wi-Fi,3G or LTE, and the like, so that those data can be transmitted to theterminal 110 by means of the communication network 113. Furthermore, thepatch also provides another set of instruction for decoding the dataflows, which are received through the same transmission means, intocommands for the alternative user equipment 104 and into audio-visualinformation that can be transmitted by, the alternative user equipment,through the mobile network 101. This will allow an end-user with only ageneral knowledge about mobile devices to manage settings andapplications on the alternative user equipment. In this way, theaccessibility to the mobile services is further improved because using aregular device like a smartphone or a tablet makes it possible torecover a large quantity of information since the level of integrationof the components results increased.

In a third embodiment of the invention, the first user equipment (whichcomprises the same technical features of the first user equipment 102described for the two previous embodiments) comprises the terminaldevice 110, i.e. the first user equipment 102 may be a smartphone, atablet, or the like. In this way, the accessibility to the mobileservices is further improved because the invention can be implementedwithout using a dedicated terminal 110 which is not usually carriedaround by the user.

Furthermore, the first user equipment 102 may be configured foraccessing at least one communication service through the alternativeuser equipment 104 (via the terminal device comprised into it) when thefirst user equipment 102 is unable to access said at least onecommunication services provided by the mobile network 101. In this way,it is possible to increase the possibility to access mobilecommunication services also when the user is in a place in which themobile network 101 cannot be accessed but the communication network 113is available (e.g. in a basement or the like).

Such kind of arrangement provides a high degree of flexibility andallows the user to fully mirror his/her main user equipment 102 in thealternative user equipment 104.

With the above-described embodiments of the invention, and others thatthe skilled person can devise, a mobile user can access his/her cellularservices and applications through Internet and do what one can do with aregular handset directly connected to a cellular network.

The present description has tackled some of the possible variants, butit will be apparent to the man skilled in the art that other embodimentsmay also be implemented, wherein some elements may be replaced withother technically equivalent elements. The present invention is nottherefore limited to the explanatory examples described herein, but maybe subject to many modifications, improvements or replacements ofequivalent parts and elements without departing from the basic inventiveidea, as set out in the following claims.

1. A communication system for providing access to mobile communicationservices, voice call, SMS, instant messaging, comprising: a mobilenetwork for providing said mobile communication services, acommunication network for providing data communication services, a firstuser equipment configured for accessing said mobile network, andcomprising a first subscriber identity module adapted to give access tosaid mobile network, a second user equipment configured for accessingsaid mobile network, comprising a second subscriber identity moduleadapted to give access to said mobile network, and a communicationinterface for: receiving control information for remote controlling saidsecond user equipment, and transmitting audio and/or visual informationgenerated during the operation of said second user equipment, a terminaldevice comprising first communication means adapted to access saidcommunication network, and input/output means adapted to present theaudio and/or visual information and acquire control information, agateway apparatus configured for allowing communications between saidterminal device and said second user equipment through the communicationnetwork, wherein the terminal device is configured for: a. establishing,through the first communication means, a connection with saidcommunication interface of the second user equipment via said gatewayapparatus, b. transmitting, through said connection, said controlinformation to the second user equipment, and c. receiving the audioand/or visual information through said connection, and presenting saidaudio and/or visual information by means of the input/output means,wherein the first subscriber identity module and the second subscriberidentity module are associated to a same telephone number, enabling thesecond user equipment to access at least one communication service whichis also available to the first user equipment and wherein saidcommunication network is Internet, through which said gateway apparatusexchanges data and commands with said terminal device.
 2. Thecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein the second userequipment comprises the gateway apparatus.
 3. The communication systemaccording to claim 1, comprising a connection interface in communicationwith the gateway apparatus and with the communication interface of saidsecond user equipment, wherein the audio and/or visual informationcomprises output information, and the control information comprises atleast a user equipment command and/or data sent to said second userequipment, wherein the connection interface is configured for: a.acquiring equipment output data produced by said second user equipment,adapting said equipment output data into the output information whichcan be transmitted, and sending said output information to the gatewayapparatus, b. receiving input information from said gateway apparatus,translating said input information into said at least one user equipmentcommand and/or data sent to said second user equipment, and sending saidcommand and/or data to said second user equipment.
 4. The communicationsystem according to claim 1, wherein first user equipment comprises theterminal device.
 5. The communication system according to claim 4,wherein the first user equipment is configured for accessing at leastone communication service through the second user equipment via theterminal device when said first user equipment is unable to access saidat least one communication services provided by the mobile network. 6.The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first and thesecond user equipment are configured for synchronizing service accessdata between them through the communication network.
 7. The userequipment prepared to be used in said communication systems according toclaim
 1. 8. The user equipment according to claim 7 for providing accessto mobile communication services such as voice call, SMS, instantmessaging, or the like, comprising: a mobile interface for accessing toa mobile network providing said mobile communication services, acommunication interface for allowing remote control of said second userequipment, wherein said communication interface is in communication witha communication network, a subscriber identity module for giving accessto said mobile network, and processing means in communication with saidcommunication interface and said mobile interface and said subscriberidentity module, wherein said processing means are configured forreceiving, through said communication interface, control informationwhich can be generated by a terminal device, generating data on thebasis of said received control information, and transmitting said datathrough said mobile interface, acquiring audio and/or visual informationgenerated during the operation of the processing means and/or the mobileinterface, transmitting, through said communication interface, saidaudio and/or visual information, and wherein said subscriber identitymodule is configured to be associated to a telephone number that is alsoassociated to a further subscriber identity module of another userequipment, so that said user equipment can access at least onecommunication service which is also available to said another userequipment.
 9. The server prepared to be used in one of saidcommunication systems according to claim
 1. 10. A method for providingaccess to mobile communication services such as voice call, SMS, instantmessaging, or the like, comprising: a receiving phase, wherein controlinformation, which can be generated by a terminal device, are receivedthrough a communication interface of a user equipment associated to atelephone number that is also associated to another user equipment, afirst data forwarding phase, wherein data are generated, by means ofprocessing means, on the basis of said received control information, andtransmitted, by means of said user equipment, to a mobile network, asecond data forwarding phase, wherein audio and/or visual informationgenerated during the operation of the user equipment are transmitted,through said communication interface, to the terminal device, wherein acommunication network as Internet is provided, through which a gatewayapparatus exchanges data and commands with said terminal device.
 11. Thecomputer program product which can be loaded into the memory of anelectronic computer or said user equipment or said server or one of theelements of said communication systems according to claim 1 and whichcomprises portions of software code for providing access to mobilecommunication services such as voice call, SMS, instant messaging, orthe like.
 12. The computer program product adapted for executing atleast one of the phases of the method according to claim 10.